Baseball Today - April 30
Mon, Apr 30, 2007
By Associated Press
Washington at San Diego (10:05 p.m. EDT). Jake Peavy makes his first start since striking out 16 on Wednesday.
STARS
Sunday
- Fausto Carmona, Indians, gave up one run and six hits in 8 1-3 innings and Cleveland beat Baltimore 6-1.
- Matt Holliday, Rockies, hit a two-run home run in the 11th inning to help Colorado avoid a three-game series sweep with a 9-7 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
- Brady Clark, Dodgers, hit a go-ahead double in the 17th inning and Los Angeles beat the San Diego Padres 5-4.
- Brandon Inge, Tigers, hit a leadoff homer in the ninth to give Detroit a 4-3 victory over Minnesota.
- John Maine, Mets, struck out a career-high eight and allowed three hits in seven innings and New York beat Washington 1-0.
- Jamie Moyer, Phillies, took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of Philadelphia''s 6-1 win over Florida.
MOURNED
Josh Hancock, a relief pitcher who helped the team win the World Series last season, died early Sunday when his sport utility vehicle slammed into the back of a tow truck, bringing back memories of Darryl Kile''s death in June 2002. The Cardinals postponed their home game Sunday night against the Chicago Cubs.
MARATHON
Brady Clark hit a go-ahead double in the 17th inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 5-4 on Sunday in the longest game in Petco Park''s four-year history. It also was the longest game in the major leagues this season. Pittsburgh beat Houston 4-3 in 16 innings Wednesday, a game that lasted 4 hours, 48 minutes. The Dodgers-Padres game took 4:55.
RARITY
Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki had an unassisted triple play in the seventh inning of the Rockies'' 9-7 win over Atlanta on Sunday. After Kelly Johnson and Edgar Renteria reached on singles, Tulowitzki caught Chipper Jones'' line drive behind second base. Tulowitzki stepped on the bag to double up Johnson and tagged Renteria for the third out. It was the 13th unassisted triple play in major league history and the first since 2003.
FOILED
Jamie Moyer took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and combined with two relievers for a four-hitter in the Philadelphia Phillies'' 6-1 win over Florida on Sunday. ... Cha Seung Baek took a no-hit bid into the sixth, and Willie Bloomquist''s two-out, two-run double in the seventh inning broke a 1-1 tie in Seattle''s 5-1 win over the Kansas City Royals.
NICE COMPANY
With a two-run shot in the eight inning of a 7-4 win over New York, Boston''s Manny Ramirez became only the fifth player to hit 50 career homers against the Yankees, joining Jimmie Foxx (70), Ted Williams (62), Hank Greenberg (53) and Carl Yastrzemski (52).
STREAKING
The Yankees'' Derek Jeter homered in a 7-4 loss to Boston, extending his hitting streak to 17 games. ... Arizona topped San Francisco 5-4 to earn their fifth straight victory following a five-game skid.
SNAPPED
Boston''s Mike Lowell went 0-for-2 in a 7-4 win over New York, ending his 14-game hitting streak. The Yankees'' Bobby Abreu hit an eighth-inning single to end an 0-for-19 slide, the longest of his major league career. ... Philadelphia''s Aaron Rowand went 0-for-3 in a 6-1 win over Florida, halting his career-high hitting streak at 16. ... Seattle DH Jose Vidro saw his 12-game hitting streak end in a 5-1 win over the Royals.
SPEAKING
''I was blowing and yelling for it to go. Vance Wilson told me he was in the bullpen trying to push the fence closer to home.'''' - Detroit''s Brandon Inge, on his walkoff homer in the Tigers'' 4-3 win over Minnesota.
Mets' Hernandez gets shoulder pain checked out
Sun, Apr 29, 2007
By Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- New York Mets right-hander Orlando Hernandez flew to New York on Sunday to have a doctor check out pain in his pitching shoulder.
Hernandez (2-1) is scheduled to start Monday at home against the Florida Marlins.
He told the Mets about his shoulder when he arrived at RFK Stadium before Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals, general manager Omar Minaya said. Hernandez threw a bullpen session Saturday.
''We'll see what the doctor says,'' Minaya said.
The GM didn't say what the team would do if Hernandez isn't able to start Monday; one possibility could be to push rookie right-hander Mike Pelfrey up a day from his scheduled outing Tuesday.
Second baseman Jose Valentin also traveled to New York on Sunday. He was to have an MRI exam on his right knee after leaving Saturday's game in the fourth inning.
''Hopefully, it's only going to be a couple of days I'm telling myself, based on the way he was walking,'' Minaya said. ''I hope that it's OK, and it won't be a DL.''
A's acquire Langerhans to help injury-depleted outfield
April 29, 2007
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Athletics got some relief for their injury-depleted outfield Sunday, acquiring Ryan Langerhans in a trade with the Atlanta Braves for a player to be named or cash.
Langerhans will join the A's in Boston on Tuesday and is slated to start in center field for the opener of the two-game series with the Red Sox.
"He plays all three outfield positions, and given our situation with all the injuries, we need as many healthy bodies as we can get," A's general manager Billy Beane said. "He's a player we've liked in the past. He's off to a rough start in Atlanta and he became available to us."
To make room on the roster for Langerhans, Oakland optioned Sunday's losing pitcher, Dallas Braden, to Triple-A Sacramento. Braden made his second major league start and could be called back up to pitch on either May 10 or 12.
"I don't know how to react right now," Langerhans said Sunday in Colorado after a game against the Rockies. "I know I'm going to a place where I'll have a chance to get more at-bats. I have to look at it as a good thing for me right now."
Langerhans can play all three outfield spots, which gives manager Bob Geren some flexibility he has been missing with starting center fielder Mark Kotsay on the 60-day disabled list recovering from back surgery and right fielder Milton Bradley on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring. Aside from those two, Nick Swisher has been sidelined with a strained left hamstring and Bobby Kielty is nursing a strained left calf that still might land him on the DL.
"It feels good," Geren said after Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. "He is a major league outfielder, a quality outfielder. He can play center, he can play the corners. That will definitely help. It seems the Braves are on everywhere. I've seen him play. He's hard-nosed."
This was the second trade in three days for the ailing defending AL West champion A's, who picked up outfielder Chris Denorfia -- recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and not expected to play until 2008 -- in a swap with Cincinnati on Friday and sent right-hander Marcus McBeth to the Reds on Saturday as one of two players to be named in the deal.
Langerhans was batting .068 (3-for-44) in 20 games for the Braves this season.
"Oakland wants him, No. 1," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "I think this gives him a chance to play center field for them."
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D-Backs 1B Conor Jackson (finger) is out of tonight's game.
Rangers RF Nelson Cruz will get tonight off as the Rangers face Roy Halladay, and Cruz is 2-for-12 lifetime against him.
The Angels are expected to get 3B Chone Figgins (fingers) back in the lineup this evening. Figgins has been sidelined since spring training.
Pirates Xavier Nady (hamstring) is not healthy enough to be in the starting lineup tonight.
Mets Jose Valentin (knee) is not expected to play tonight.
Mets disable "El Duque"
April 30th, 2007
Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Mets have placed pitcher Orlando Hernandez on the 15-day disabled list because of bursitis in his right shoulder.
Hernandez was scheduled to start Monday's game against Florida. The DL move is retroactive to April 25, the day after his last outing against Colorado.
The veteran right-hander has a record of 2-1 with a 2.53 earned run average in five starts this season.
Chan Ho Park was scheduled to take Hernandez's start Monday. Park had been pitching at Triple-A New Orleans and was 3-1 with a 7.29 ERA in four minor league starts.
Chan Ho Park was scheduled to take Hernandez's start Monday. Park had been pitching at Triple-A New Orleans and was 3-1 with a 7.29 ERA in four minor league starts.
How are you 3-1 with a ERA of almost 7.29 ???
Orioles' Wright back on DL
April 30th, 2007
Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - One day after activating starting pitcher Jaret Wright off the disabled list, the Baltimore Orioles placed him back on the 15- day DL with a recurrence of right shoulder soreness.
The Orioles activated Wright on Sunday for his start against Cleveland. The right-hander gave up four hits and three runs in three innings as Baltimore lost 6-1.
Wright has a record of 0-3 with a 6.97 earned run average in three starts this season.
To take his place, the Orioles recalled pitcher Kurt Birkins from Triple-A Norfolk. He was scheduled to join the team on Monday in Detroit.
Braves place Wickman on DL
April 30th, 2007
Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Atlanta Braves closer Bob Wickman was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with upper back tendinitis.
Wickman, who has battled back problems in the past, has had a rough stretch for the Braves recently. In his last three appearances, he has allowed six runs -- five earned -- on five hits with six walks and one strikeout over 1 2/3 innings. The right-hander suffered two blown saves and one loss over that stretch.
For the season, Wickman is 1-1 with a 3.97 ERA and six saves.
To replace Wickman on the 25-man roster, the Braves activated pitcher Chad Paronto from the 15-day disabled list. He has been out since April 13 with a strained groin.
Mets' Valentin placed on DL
April 30th, 2007
Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Mets placed starting second baseman Jose Valentin on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a partial tear of the ACL in his right knee.
Valentin, who has had knee problems in the past, felt a pop in Saturday night's game against the Washington Nationals when covering second base on a steal attempt in the third inning. He was removed from the game in the fourth inning.
Through 20 games this season, the switch-hitter is hitting .279 with two homers, 13 RBI and 10 runs scored.
To replace Valentin on the 25-man roster the Mets purchased the contract of Ruben Gotay from Triple-A New Orleans.